Age of electoral democracy (V-Dem) in Australia
Australia: Age of electoral democracy (V-Dem) was 168 years in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
168 years
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
2nd
of 111 countries
All-time high
168 years
in 2025
All-time low
1 years
in 1858
Years of data
168
1858–2025
Age of electoral democracy in Australia, 1858–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for age of electoral democracy in Australia is 168 years, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 168 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age of electoral democracy in Australia peaked at 168 years in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1 years, in 1858.
Australia ranks 2nd of 111 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Age of electoral democracy (V-Dem) in Australia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1858 | 1 years | — |
| 1859 | 2 years | +100.0% |
| 1860 | 3 years | +50.0% |
| 1861 | 4 years | +33.3% |
| 1862 | 5 years | +25.0% |
| 1863 | 6 years | +20.0% |
| 1864 | 7 years | +16.7% |
| 1865 | 8 years | +14.3% |
| 1866 | 9 years | +12.5% |
| 1867 | 10 years | +11.1% |
| 1868 | 11 years | +10.0% |
| 1869 | 12 years | +9.1% |
| 1870 | 13 years | +8.3% |
| 1871 | 14 years | +7.7% |
| 1872 | 15 years | +7.1% |
| 1873 | 16 years | +6.7% |
| 1874 | 17 years | +6.2% |
| 1875 | 18 years | +5.9% |
| 1876 | 19 years | +5.6% |
| 1877 | 20 years | +5.3% |
| 1878 | 21 years | +5.0% |
| 1879 | 22 years | +4.8% |
| 1880 | 23 years | +4.5% |
| 1881 | 24 years | +4.3% |
| 1882 | 25 years | +4.2% |
| 1883 | 26 years | +4.0% |
| 1884 | 27 years | +3.8% |
| 1885 | 28 years | +3.7% |
| 1886 | 29 years | +3.6% |
| 1887 | 30 years | +3.4% |
| 1888 | 31 years | +3.3% |
| 1889 | 32 years | +3.2% |
| 1890 | 33 years | +3.1% |
| 1891 | 34 years | +3.0% |
| 1892 | 35 years | +2.9% |
| 1893 | 36 years | +2.9% |
| 1894 | 37 years | +2.8% |
| 1895 | 38 years | +2.7% |
| 1896 | 39 years | +2.6% |
| 1897 | 40 years | +2.6% |
| 1898 | 41 years | +2.5% |
| 1899 | 42 years | +2.4% |
| 1900 | 43 years | +2.4% |
| 1901 | 44 years | +2.3% |
| 1902 | 45 years | +2.3% |
| 1903 | 46 years | +2.2% |
| 1904 | 47 years | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 48 years | +2.1% |
| 1906 | 49 years | +2.1% |
| 1907 | 50 years | +2.0% |
| 1908 | 51 years | +2.0% |
| 1909 | 52 years | +2.0% |
| 1910 | 53 years | +1.9% |
| 1911 | 54 years | +1.9% |
| 1912 | 55 years | +1.9% |
| 1913 | 56 years | +1.8% |
| 1914 | 57 years | +1.8% |
| 1915 | 58 years | +1.8% |
| 1916 | 59 years | +1.7% |
| 1917 | 60 years | +1.7% |
| 1918 | 61 years | +1.7% |
| 1919 | 62 years | +1.6% |
| 1920 | 63 years | +1.6% |
| 1921 | 64 years | +1.6% |
| 1922 | 65 years | +1.6% |
| 1923 | 66 years | +1.5% |
| 1924 | 67 years | +1.5% |
| 1925 | 68 years | +1.5% |
| 1926 | 69 years | +1.5% |
| 1927 | 70 years | +1.4% |
| 1928 | 71 years | +1.4% |
| 1929 | 72 years | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 73 years | +1.4% |
| 1931 | 74 years | +1.4% |
| 1932 | 75 years | +1.4% |
| 1933 | 76 years | +1.3% |
| 1934 | 77 years | +1.3% |
| 1935 | 78 years | +1.3% |
| 1936 | 79 years | +1.3% |
| 1937 | 80 years | +1.3% |
| 1938 | 81 years | +1.2% |
| 1939 | 82 years | +1.2% |
| 1940 | 83 years | +1.2% |
| 1941 | 84 years | +1.2% |
| 1942 | 85 years | +1.2% |
| 1943 | 86 years | +1.2% |
| 1944 | 87 years | +1.2% |
| 1945 | 88 years | +1.1% |
| 1946 | 89 years | +1.1% |
| 1947 | 90 years | +1.1% |
| 1948 | 91 years | +1.1% |
| 1949 | 92 years | +1.1% |
| 1950 | 93 years | +1.1% |
| 1951 | 94 years | +1.1% |
| 1952 | 95 years | +1.1% |
| 1953 | 96 years | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 97 years | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 98 years | +1.0% |
| 1956 | 99 years | +1.0% |
| 1957 | 100 years | +1.0% |
| 1958 | 101 years | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 102 years | +1.0% |
| 1960 | 103 years | +1.0% |
| 1961 | 104 years | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 105 years | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 106 years | +1.0% |
| 1964 | 107 years | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 108 years | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 109 years | +0.9% |
| 1967 | 110 years | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 111 years | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 112 years | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 113 years | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 114 years | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 115 years | +0.9% |
| 1973 | 116 years | +0.9% |
| 1974 | 117 years | +0.9% |
| 1975 | 118 years | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 119 years | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 120 years | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 121 years | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 122 years | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 123 years | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 124 years | +0.8% |
| 1982 | 125 years | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 126 years | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 127 years | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 128 years | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 129 years | +0.8% |
| 1987 | 130 years | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 131 years | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 132 years | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 133 years | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 134 years | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 135 years | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 136 years | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 137 years | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 138 years | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 139 years | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 140 years | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 141 years | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 142 years | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 143 years | +0.7% |
| 2001 | 144 years | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 145 years | +0.7% |
| 2003 | 146 years | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 147 years | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 148 years | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 149 years | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 150 years | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 151 years | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 152 years | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 153 years | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 154 years | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 155 years | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 156 years | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 157 years | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 158 years | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 159 years | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 160 years | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 161 years | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 162 years | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 163 years | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 164 years | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 165 years | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 166 years | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 167 years | +0.6% |
| 2025 | 168 years | +0.6% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 168 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 63.5 years, 2.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Australia's 168 years is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 25 years, 6.7× the median. (13 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Age of electoral democracy (V-Dem) in Australia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1859 | +100.0% | 1 years | 2 years |
| 1860 | +50.0% | 2 years | 3 years |
| 1861 | +33.3% | 3 years | 4 years |
| 1862 | +25.0% | 4 years | 5 years |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.5 years | 1 years | 2 years | 2 |
| 1860s | 7.5 years | 3 years | 12 years | 10 |
| 1870s | 17.5 years | 13 years | 22 years | 10 |
| 1880s | 27.5 years | 23 years | 32 years | 10 |
| 1890s | 37.5 years | 33 years | 42 years | 10 |
| 1900s | 47.5 years | 43 years | 52 years | 10 |
| 1910s | 57.5 years | 53 years | 62 years | 10 |
| 1920s | 67.5 years | 63 years | 72 years | 10 |
| 1930s | 77.5 years | 73 years | 82 years | 10 |
| 1940s | 87.5 years | 83 years | 92 years | 10 |
| 1950s | 97.5 years | 93 years | 102 years | 10 |
| 1960s | 107.5 years | 103 years | 112 years | 10 |
| 1970s | 117.5 years | 113 years | 122 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 127.5 years | 123 years | 132 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 137.5 years | 133 years | 142 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 147.5 years | 143 years | 152 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 157.5 years | 153 years | 162 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 165.5 years | 163 years | 168 years | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 1 Switzerland 177 years compare
- 3 New Zealand 139 years compare
- 4 Iceland 122 years compare
- 5 United Kingdom 107 years compare
More social development data for Australia
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 33,415 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 41 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0012 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age of electoral democracy in Australia?
- Age of electoral democracy in Australia was 168 years in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest age of electoral democracy recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 168 years in 2025.
- What is the lowest age of electoral democracy recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 years in 1858.
- How does Australia rank for age of electoral democracy?
- Australia ranks 2nd out of 111 countries with data for 2025.
- Is age of electoral democracy rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Age of electoral democracy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 168 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of consecutive years in electoral democracy.